While BYU had a bye week in college football it was actually a great weekend to catch future BYU players in-action as the Utah, Idaho, and Arizona prep playoffs are now in full swing. Half of the 22 BYU commits were pitted against each other as their teams continue to advance towards state titles. Indeed, five of the remaining eight teams in the Utah 5A and 6A playoffs had BYU commits on their rosters.
In the semifinal matchups for the Utah 6A playoffs no. 1 seed Corner Canyon (with BYU commits Cody Hagen and Micah Wilson) matched up against no. 4 seed Weber (with BYU commits Cannon DeVries and Aisea Moa). Corner Canyon handily defeated Weber to advance to the state title game versus Lone Peak. Cody Hagen had five receptions for 80 yards for three touchdowns for Corner Canyon, while Cannon DeVries had six receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown with six tackles and 86 return yards for Weber.
In the 5A playoffs Dallin Johnson and Springville defeated Orem (with BYU commit Vae Soifua), while Lehi came out on top in their matchup with Stansbury and BYU commit Easton Baker. Baker’s sensation sophomore season ended with him racking up seven more tackles and 2.5 sacks. He ends the season with over 100 tackles and as the state leader in defensive touchdowns (3) and forced fumbles (10). Coaches in his region voted him the defensive MVP.
Arizona is just getting into their playoffs and a few BYU commits got to face off there as well.
Brigham Alexander and Benjamin Franklin high school were defeated by Brooks Jones and American Leadership Academy for their final game of the regular season. Jones had four tackles in the win. Ben Franklin will take a 14 seed into the Arizona 4A playoffs and have a first round matchup with Mesquite on Thursday. ALA is competing in the open division and as a no. 8 seed face no. 1 seed Hamilton in the first round on November 26.
Meanwhile, Cooper Ross and Heritage Academy are competing in the 8-man Division 2 playoffs. They had a first round bye and then won this past weekend to advance to the championship game versus Imagine Prep on November 20. Ross had another impressive outing in the semifinal win with 10 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns, three two-point conversions, nine tackles (eight solo), one pass breakup, two tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Finally, in the 5A Idaho playoffs, BYU commit Talin Togiai continued to anchor the no. 1 offense in the state as they defeated Meridian in triple overtime in the semifinal game and will face Highland on Thursday for the state championship.
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Here is a breakdown for each of the BYU commits:
BYU Commits in-action (11)
- Brigham Alexander (@big_brig66, OL/DL). Benjamin Franklin HS (Queen Creek, Arizona, 6-4) fell to American Leadership Academy 48-18. No stats. Season totals: 10 games, one two yard rush for a touchdown, nine tackles (six solo), three tackles for loss, two sacks.
- Easton Baker (@BakerEaston, LB). Stansbury HS (Tooele, Utah, 10-3) fell to Lehi 28-14 in the semifinal round of the 4A Utah playoffs. Baker had seven tackles and 2.5 sacks. Season totals: 13 games, 112 tackles, 10 sacks, six quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, 10 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries with three recovered for touchdowns (returns of 8, 45, and 97 yards). Four carries on offense for 40 yards and a touchdown, and one reception for 11 yards. Baker leads the state in forced fumbles (10) and defensive touchdowns (3) and was named the Region 7 Defensive MVP.
- Cannon DeVries (@CannonDevries, WR/FS). Weber HS (Pleasant View, Utah, 10-3) fell to Corner Canyon 48-13 in the semifinal round of the Utah 6A playoffs. DeVries had six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown, six solo tackles, and 86 return yards with 181 all-purpose yards. Season totals: 13 games, 1-for-1 passing for 30 yards and a touchdown, 66 receptions for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns, 37 carries for 406 yards and six touchdowns, 741 return yards, 86 tackles (63 solo), 15 passes defended, one tackle for loss, two blocked field goals, and five interceptions. He has 2126 all-purpose yards with 17 total touchdowns and was named the Region 1 MVP.
- Cody Hagen (@_codyhagen_, WR). Corner Canyon HS (Draper, Utah, 10-1) defeated Weber 48-13 in the semifinals of the Utah 6A playoffs and will play Lone Peak this Friday in the finals. Hagen had five receptions for 80 yards and three touchdowns in the semifinal match. Season totals: 13 games, 82 receptions for 1678 yards (20.5 avg) and 21 touchdowns. MaxPreps has Hagen at no. 1 in the state of Utah in receiving yards (1678), no. 3 in yards per game (129.1), no. 5 in total receptions (82), and no. 2 in receiving touchdowns (21). He ranks no. 2 nationally in total receiving yards.
- Dallin Johnson (@DallinJohnson73, ATH). Springville HS (Springville, Utah, 11-1) defeated Orem 27-26 in the semifinal round of the Utah 5A playoffs and will play Lehi on Friday in the title game. Stats not yet available. Season totals: 11 games, 61 tackles (43 solo), seven quarterback hurries, two interceptions (with 47 return yards), three passes defended, two forced fumbles, 10 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
- Brooks Jones (@Brooks_Jones81, DE/TE). American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek, Arizona, 9-1, no. 2 in AZ 4A) defeated Benjamin Franklin 48-18. Jones had four tackles. Season totals: 10 games, 45 tackles (13 solo), seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, five sacks, and a forced fumble.
- Aisea Moa (@aiseamoa_8, DE/TE). Weber HS (Pleasant View, Utah, 10-3) fell to Corner Canyon 48-13 in the semifinal round of the Utah 6A playoffs. Moa had three tackles and 0.5 sacks. Season totals: 13 games, nine carries for 30 yards and four touchdowns, two receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown, 73 tackles (23 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions (including a 26 yard interception returned for a touchdown).
- Cooper Ross (@CooperJRoss, TE). Heritage Academy (Mesa, Arizona, 7-1) came from down 28-12 at the half to defeat Imagine Prep Superstition 52-48 in the Arizona state semifinal matchup. Ross was a big reason for the win as he had 10 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns, three two-point conversions, nine tackles (eight solo), one pass breakup, two tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Season totals: Seven games, 45 receptions for 756 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven two-point conversions, 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries with one returned 15-yards for a touchdown.
- Vae Soifua (@vae_soifua, OL). Orem HS (Orem, Utah, 7-6) fell to Springville 27-26 in the semifinal round of the Utah 5A playoffs to end their season. No stats. Season totals: 13 games, four tackles (two solo), two sacks, one forced fumble.
- Talin Togiai (@TogiaiTalin, OT/DT). Rigby HS (Rigby, ID, 10-1) defeated Capital 55-49 in the quarterfinal round of the Idaho state 5A playoffs. No stats. Season totals: Nine games, no stats.
- Micah Wilson (@Micah_Wilson11, LB). Corner Canyon HS (Draper, Utah, 10-1) defeated Weber 48-13 in the semifinals of the Utah 6A playoffs and will play Lone Peak this Friday in the finals. Wilson recorded no stats. Season totals: 10 games, 47 tackles (29 solo), three tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, 1.5 sack, and one interception for 27 yards and a touchdown.
BYU commits whose seasons have concluded (11)
- Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio (@HezekiahAA, RB/LB). Timpview HS (Orem, Utah, 9-3) season has concluded. Season Totals: 11 games, 17 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown, three receptions for 23 yards, 76 tackles (64 solo), 19 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, and eight sacks.
- Kaden Chidester (@Kaden_Chid, ATH). Richfield HS (Richfield, Utah, 4-7). Season has concluded. Season totals: 11 games; 29 tackles (21 solo), three tackles for loss, four passes defended, 16 quarterback hurries, three sacks, one blocked field goal, one blocked PAT, three forced fumbles.
- Peter Falaniko (@FalanikoPeter, OL). Pine View HS (St. George, Utah, 7-5) season has concluded. No stats. Season totals: 11 games, no stats.
- Braxton Fely (@Braxton_Fely, DL). Timpview HS (Orem, Utah, 9-3) season has concluded. Season totals: 11 games; 50 tackles (42 solo), 25 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and 11.5 sacks. MaxPreps has Fely at no. 17 in the state of Utah for sacks (11.5), and no. 7 in tackles for loss (25).
- Pokai Haunga (@PokaiauaHaunga, WR). Timpview HS (Orem, Utah, 9-3) season has concluded. Season totals: Nine games, 16 rushes for 220 yards and a touchdown, 58 receptions for 1101 yards and 13 touchdowns, one kick return for 30 yards.
- Jarinn Kalama (@JarinnKalama, ATH). Wasatch HS (Heber City, Utah, 7-4) season has concluded. Season totals: 11 games, 62 receptions for 779 yards and six touchdowns, one pass for 55 yards, 45 tackles (35 solo), five tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble.
- Maika Kaufusi (@KaufusiMaika, S). Alta HS (Sandy, Utah, 6-5) season has concluded. Season totals: Six games, 25 receptions for 622 yards and 10 touchdowns, 29 tackles (17 solo), one tackle for loss, two passes defended, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. MaxPreps show that Kaufusi is no. 9 in the state in receiving yards per game (103.7).
- Parker Kingston (QB). Roy HS (Ogden, Utah, 7-4) season has concluded. Season totals: 11 games, 77-of-131 passing for 1088 yards and nine touchdowns (five interceptions), 124 carries for 1129 yards and 18 touchdowns, five kickoff returns for 256 yards and two touchdowns, five punt returns for 91 yards, eight tackles (seven solo), one pass defended, seven punts for 242 yards.
- Liutai Kinikini (LB). West HS (Salt Lake City, Utah, 8-2) season has concluded. Season totals: 10 games, one 10 yard carry, one 39 yard touchdown reception, 29 tackles (12 solo), four passes defended, and one tackle for loss.
- Noah Moeaki (@noah_moeaki, TE/OLB). American Fork HS (American Fork, Utah, 7-4) season has concluded. Season totals: Nine games, 28 receptions for 422 yards and six touchdowns, 45 tackles (19 solo), two tackles for loss, one sack, and an interception.
- Trevin Ostler (@OstlerTrevin, ATH). Bountiful HS (Bountiful, Utah, 8-3) season has concluded. Season totals: Nine games, 19 tackles (six solo), two passes defended, four tackles for loss, two sacks.
Week 14 Highlights
Brigham Alexander (OL/DL, Benjamin Franklin HS)
Easton Baker (LB, Stansbury HS)
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